Kanu Nwankwo says his success at Arsenal
‘opened the doors’ for more African footballers
to play in the Premier League. Today Thursday, February 18, marks the 17th
anniversary of Kanu signing for the club, and
the 39-year-old has fond memories of his time
in north London. The former Nigeria striker joined the Gunners
in 1999 and went on to score 44 goals in 198
appearances, helping the Gunners lift two
Premier League trophies and two FA Cups
during his five years at the club. “I believe I was the first African person who
came to England and did very well,” he told
Arsenal Player. “After that the doors opened for African talent
so, with Arsenal behind me and what we did
with Arsenal, everybody now tends to follow
the English league. “When I came over I saw a good coach who
saw the best in me. I was a good player
because he made it easier for me to play. “Everybody believes that English football is all
about playing the ball up, not keeping it on the
ground, but Arsène has his own idea of
football and it made it easier for us. He wanted
us to play football the right way, he wanted us
to enjoy it by passing the ball around and that’s what we did “It was very easy to adjust when you saw the
fans. The supporters are behind you and they
love you and what you are doing and that
means you have to do more. If you keep doing
more, they keep loving you and it was very
easy for them to adopt me. “I had the skills and the tricks the fans really
love. When I left Arsenal I still had the fans on
my mind and since then I’ve been supporting
the club.” Credit: The Arsenal Football Club
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How My Arsenal Spell Opened Doors For African Talents – Kanu NwankwoCreated at 2016-02-18
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